A Travel and Lifestyle Blog

DESTINATIONS

ASIA

EUROPE

MIDDLE EAST

NOTH AMERICA

Enjoying what we do

We love our blog. We think it’s pretty rad and we’re so happy with all the opportunities it’s brought us on this trip. But we’re not full time bloggers and don’t wish to be. There are people far better at marketing and advertising their blogs and that’s great. Us? We do it for the sole purpose of writing, sharing photos and conversing with fellow travel fanatics online. Sometimes perks come along and we’re grateful but we’re in no way solely depending on this.

The Perfect Surrounding

Matt and I are lucky to have awesome, kickass families and fantastic friends. Unfortunately for me, having traveled and moved around so much for nearly 7 years now, I’ve missed out on a lot. I’ve met amazing people to simply lose touch later as I venture abroad. I’m looking forward to catching up with old friends, being part of my best friend’s wedding, meeting my nephew in June and simply being present in my friends’ and family’s lives.

THE TRAVEL DOESN’T STOP

So we’re buying a couch. And decorating an apartment. It’s not the end of the world and it certainly doesn’t mean the end of our travels! I’ve always had such admiration for people that manage to maintain a full time job and find the time to travel here and there. We just can’t wait to be part of that group! Québec City and Manhattan are on my horizon for this spring as I will lead tours to these destinations. We are also trying to pick where to go this fall (Chicago, Boston, NYC are contenders!) and hopefully a South American trip later in the year.

OUR BLOG

We all want to make the most of whatever time away we can afford to take, but sometimes we feel like going that extra mile to ensure that a holiday is truly special. Here are 5 simple things you can do to ensure that your next holiday is as memorable as possible.

Budget Beforehand

One of the most common causes of stress when on holiday is money. Going on holiday can be expensive at the best of times; if you don’t make a conscious effort to make smart and informed spending choices, you increase the chances of overspending, and of inflicting unnecessary stress and worry on yourself.

In order to avoid money worries detracting an otherwise enjoyable escape from everyday life, spend some time before you go on holiday to ensure that you know how much money you have to spend, and how you can most effectively divide up your costs.

Invest in a Good Camera

The more special your holiday is, the more you will want to capture it on camera. While most of us are carrying cameras with us everywhere we go, whether on smartphones, tablets, or even laptops – and these cameras are constantly improving – they are no substitute for a proper camera.

A good quality DSLR camera doesn’t cost as much as it used to, and it will make all the difference when it comes to capturing your most special moments. Check out this beginner’s camera buying guide for an idea of where to start your search.

Make Time for Family

A truly special holiday will surely involve your family. If you are travelling with a spouse and children, make sure that you set aside enough time to spend with all of them individually. No matter where you go on holiday, you should try and find opportunities to spend quality time with all your family members.

When you are planning your holiday, try and make considerations for all of those who will be travelling with you. If you are travelling with friends rather than family, you should similarly plan activities that you know they will enjoy. If you are travelling alone, put some time aside for yourself!

Try New Things

A holiday is an opportunity to visit a new place and to discover new things. Whether you plan your holiday from the beginning with particular activities in mind, or you take a more freeform approach once you get there, is entirely up to you. If you are going to plan your holiday with a particular activity in mind, one you haven’t done before, make sure to research it beforehand. For example, if you will be kayaking, check out Dreamguides reviews to find the best kayak for your needs.

Find a Local Guide

When it comes to finding the hidden gems of any holiday destination, nothing can beat local knowledge. If you can find anyone local to serve as your guide while you are on holiday, they will be able to provide you with invaluable local knowledge that no guide book will cover.

These are just some of the things you can do to make your next holiday as special and memorable as possible.

Holidays in New Zealand are something that guarantees incredible scenery, friendly people, delicious cuisine, and plenty of activities to take part in. If New Zealand has any fault it’s the fact it’s so big and diverse, which makes it hard to see in one trip. This is why travelling by campervan can be such a great experience. You’ll have the opportunity to stop in a different city/town each and every day and really make the best of your holiday. Another bonus in travelling by campervan is that you’re in control of the itinerary at all times.

So, if you’re ready to rent a campervan in New Zealand and hit the open road, here are a few tips and information that you may find helpful.

Give Space a Lot of Consideration

One of the most important tips to pass along is to really think hard about how much space you need. Because you will be sleeping in the campervan and storing all your items in there, you want to be sure you’re not too cramped. You can find everything from a small campervan that sleeps two up to a motorhome that can sleep six or more.

Make Sure You Feel Comfortable Driving

Now before you get too crazy in picking the biggest model out there, keep in mind that you need to feel comfortable driving it. If you’ve never driven a campervan before then you may be better off with a mid-sized or smaller model that is easier to manoeuvre. It will also make a difference when it comes to the cost of fuel and even the rental fee.

Where Do You Plan on Driving?

Your itinerary can also help to decide which model is best, as some models offer four-wheel drive, while others don’t. If you plan on sticking to the main roads and highways, then four-wheel drive doesn’t likely matter.

How Far in Advance Do You Need to Book

Depending on what time of year you plan on taking your road trip, you may find that it’s necessary to book a few weeks to a few months in advance in order to guarantee your top choice model. The minute you start to think about a campervan holiday, it’s best to call around and get some idea of how far out you need to book. When it comes to NZ Motorhome Hire, the general rule is that the further you book in advance, the better for you.

Are You Planning on Bringing Pets?

For some people, a campervan style holiday is perfect because it allows them to bring their pet along. If it’s your own campervan, then obviously, you can do whatever you want, but with rentals, pets aren’t always welcome. Again, this is something you’ll have to ask about in advance.

It doesn’t matter if you are a hardcore traveller or someone who is just taking their first steps. There are some unsaid rules to travelling and some that are so simple, that they are overlooked in the excitement of the grander things. Here in this article, we have compiled some of the most common mistakes that even the most seasoned of travellers make.

Luggage

The whole point of going on a trip is to get some much needed R&R but if you pack too much expecting every permutation and combination of the things you might do. You will end up tugging a large suitcase across a country where you wanted to have fun, but instead, you’re spoilt for choices. The whole beauty of travelling occurs when you travel light. It teaches you to be frugal and find solace in the small things about your trip. Would you rather be spoilt for the right cocktail dress or sip cocktails on a sea-side pub with no care in the world?

Money Money Money

The most common mistake that people make is that they assume that there will be an ATM when they land or foreign currency exchange at the airport. You have got to plan these things because they can be vital to not only your whole experience but also your survival in an entirely new country. And it is critical to carry some local cash before you reach your place of stay. So make sure you know in advance that you will have some local money on you when you leave the airport and for crying out loud, inform your bank that you are going on a trip. Most banks block accounts when they see a transaction outside the country of residence thinking it is fraud. So being prepared beats assumptions any day.

Mobile Plans

You have to realise that not every place you visit is going to have a WiFi connection. Once you understand that, it is necessary to have a cellular plan that allows you to make calls and use the internet in a different country. Some mobile communications firms even provide people with temporary numbers to use in a different country through tie-ups. Recently when we had gone a trip, we found a couple from the US finding a hard time getting a cab in India because the cabs were ripping them off and their mobile plan didn’t have data for them to use Uber. It is those simple things that set the tone for the whole trip.

So you’ve got a big break, and you have made plans to travel. If you are someone who is taking their first steps when it comes to travelling, there are some certain things you need to know before you set foot on your destination. Here in this article, you will find some off-beat tips to help you make your trip memorable for all the right reasons.

Research

Most countries have a lot of people whose only form of income is to rip off travellers. So if you are going to travel to a different country, it is wise to not only research about places to visit and food to eat, but it is even more important to research about taxi fares, what the local transport apps, what the emergency numbers are among other things. It is also wise to check out blog posts that are present to help tourists have a relaxing time in the country they are visiting.

Friends of Friends of Friends

Unless you are going to a remote Island, you should know someone’s fourth cousin at the very least who happens to be staying in the same country as the one you’re visiting. Reach out to them and let them know that you’re going to visit and ask them about pointers. Ask them to help you out with initial travel, as you can easily be ripped off upon entering a country for the first time, especially in developing countries. Save their contact and give them a heads up about your travel plans’ we recommend you do this for both safety and security reasons.

Cash flow

There are two options, for you to consider. One is to go to your local bank and ask them to set up a currency exchange for you, as you are planning to go on a trip to a different country. The second option is to change currency when you land in the airport; there are a number of currency exchanges within the airport, or you can even try withdrawing from an ATM as soon as you land. If you are going for option two, then tell your bank ahead of time about your travel. Most banks and credit card companies keep track of where the money is being transacted. So if all of a sudden there is a withdrawal at a foreign country, they might block the account thinking that it is some sort of fraud. So if you don’t want to be stuck in a different country with no cash, tell your bank ahead of time.

The Best Experience Ever

"Though our initial trip together lasted 10 months – and we LOVED it – we do not travel full time. Caro works in the television industry as a freelance segment producer and Matt is a researcher for a major commercial real estate firm. Do we wish we could travel full time? Absolutely! But for the time present, it’s not in the cards and are happy to make the most of our time off. Since our return to Canada, we’ve spent time in the Dominican Republic, Iceland and are currently readying treks to Chicago and Thailand!"